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| | | According to the AABB, formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks, umbilical cord blood is a source of cells similar to those found in bone marrow. The cells can be used for transplants to patients with diseases such as leukemia, anemia and thalassemia. After birth, the cord blood can be collected, processed and stored using cryopreservation for potential future use. There are both private and public cord blood banks. Private cord blood banking means the blood will only be used for the family it came from. Public cord banking means the blood will be made available to anyone who needs it. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the likelihood that a baby's cord blood will be needed is between 1 in 1,000 or 2,700 at best; 1 in 200,000 at worst. The ACOG also warns that it is not yet known how long cord blood can successfully be stored. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Donating cord blood to a public bank is free, but is currently not widely available.
- Enrollment and collection fees for private cord blood banking range from $1,000 to $1,900.
- Shipping of the blood specimen to the storage facility costs between $30 and $150.
- Annual storage fees cost between $100 and $125.
What should be included: | - Fees for private cord blood banking should include the collection kit (usually a sterile bag), a certificate to verify the deposit and instructions for the pre-paid return shipping, usually by medical courier.
Discounts: | - Most private cord blood banks, such as Cord Blood Registry, the New England Cord Blood Bank and Neo Cells offer small discounts (roughly $20 per year) to those who pre-pay for 18 to 20 years of storage.
- Some private facilities, including Cord Blood Solutions offer discounts of $125 to $300 for parents of multiples, as well as $125 discounts for patient referrals.
- Cord Blood Registry provides the Designated Transplant Program (DTP), free of charge, to families wishing to store their newborn's umbilical cord blood stem cells for a family member diagnosed with a life-threatening disease treated by stem cells. This includes diseases such as Sickle Cell Anemia and Acute and Chronic Leukemias.
Shopping for cord blood banking: | - Cord blood banks should be accredited by the AABB, which ensures that the facility's procedures and laboratory comply with AABB guidelines for processing stem cells.
- The not-for-profit Cord Blood Donor Foundation provides a list of questions that parents should ask when considering cord blood banking.
- The Parents' Guide to Cord Blood Foundation provides a list of all public and private cord blood banks in the world.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical decisions, always consult your physician for the right course for your infant or child.
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Article updated January 2009 |
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